Telco TV roundup

Here's a glance at some of the news making the rounds at this week's TelcoTV conference in Dallas:

- Verimatrix has inked a deal to supply security measures for a line of IPTV set-tops from Motorola Inc.Under the agreement, Motorola will integrate the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) with its VIP1900, a series of set-tops that supports high- and standard-definition video in MPEG-2 and H.264 (MPEG-4) formats and on-board digital video recorders (DVRs).

That family also features the Linux-Java-based KreaTV Application Platform. Motorola acquired Sweden-based IPTV set-top maker Kreatel Communications earlier this year.

- Cavalier Telephone & TV has started to deliver video-on-demand content in MPEG-4 format to its base of IPTV customers in tandem with aggregation partner ViewNow. Initially, VOD fare in the advanced compression format is being delivered to Cavalier customers in Richmond, Va., though the telco expects to expand its MPEG-4 VOD footprint to other markets, including Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia and metro Washington D.C., by year-end.

- TVN Entertainment is spreading its wings (and market reach) with the launch of an MPEG-4-based video-on-demand delivery platform targeted to the IPTV sector.

The new advanced compression platform taps TVN's ADONISS asset management technology, which has historically been based on MPEG-2 compression and been deployed by a wide range of cable operators. The MPEG-4 service also employs a hierarchal encryption and watermarking approach.

"With everything moving to file-based distribution, our MPEG-4 technology is making it easier for telcos to enter the VOD market while simultaneously addressing compliance and security requirements with regard to industry and studio standards," said TVN Executive Vice President Jim Riley.

TVN said the new H.264 platform is presently being rolled out by a number of yet-unnamed U.S. telcos.

- RGB Networks and EGT Inc. have teamed up to offer video processing systems for telcos and other IPTV service providers.

The integration matches EGT's line of video encoders with RGB's Broadcast Network Processor (BNP), which handles elements such as video grooming, switching and digital program insertion.